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Religious Texts: funerary literature

The main bodies of religious texts are in each period named by modern scholar after the principal writing ground on which they have survived. The 'Pyramid Texts' of the Old Kingdom (about 2686-2181 BC) were found on the walls of the burial chambers of royal pyramids. 'Coffins texts' are found mainly on coffins of the Middle Kingdom (about 2025-1700 BC); The 'Book of the Dead' comprises compositions mainly found on books (papyrus scrolls) placed in tombs. There are numerous other religious texts, not belonging to any of these collections of texts, such as rituals and offering formulae on coffins, stelae and other objects.

compare:

letters to the dead


 

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